Hourly dust measurements on the high plains of the Llano Estacado

Authors: Stout, John

Submitted to: Mendeley Data
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2020
Publication Date: 2/25/2020
Citation: Stout, J.E. 2020. Hourly dust measurements on the high plains of the Llano Estacado. Mendeley Data. Version 1. https://doi.org/10.17632/3p6pc4zhkw.1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17632/3p6pc4zhkw.1

Interpretive Summary: High-volume (Hi-Vol) filter sampling is the standard method for measuring dust concentration and forms the basis for regulation of ambient dust under the U.S. Federal Clean Air Act. The standard protocol requires 24-hour sampling in order to accumulate sufficient dust mass on a filter to weigh it accurately. A 24-hour dust sample can provide valuable information about long-term changes of ambient dust but it masks important information about short-term variations. Advances in dust sampling technology has made it possible to obtain dust samples over shorter periods. Here, a new type of dust sampler called a tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) was used to record hourly dust concentration values in Lubbock, Texas, over a period of more than five years. The purpose of this report is to use recent developments in data archiving technology to provide an easily accessible portal to share this large data set with other scientists.

Technical Abstract: Hourly values of ambient dust concentration (TSP) were measured on the roof of the USDA-ARS Plant Stress and Water Conservation (PSWC) Laboratory located at 3810 4th Street in Lubbock, Texas (33.593508 -101.897688). Measurements were obtained continuously from 1 January 2003 to 8 June 2008, a period of more than five years. The sampling system consisted of a model 1400a TEOM (tapered element oscillating microbalance) manufactured by Rupprecht & Patashnick. No cyclone pre-separators or impactors were installed in the sampler inlet so that the system measured total suspended particulates (TSP). The system was mounted on a raised platform such that the sampling inlet was 2.2 m above the flat roof of the building and 7.0 m above the surrounding ground level. On the high plains of the Llano Estacado, dust is primarily generated in the highly erodible cropland outside of the city limits of Lubbock and is transported across the city by winds blowing from various directions. A portion of this dust is blown across the PSWC Lab where ambient dust concentration was measured and recorded. An attempt was made to obtain a continuous record, however, mechanical failures led to occasional gaps in the data record. All TSP concentrations are reported in units of micrograms of dust per cubic meter of air.